Float controlled valves of cisterns

ABSTRACT

THIS INVENTION PROVIDES IN OR FOR A FLUSHING CISTERN A SUBSTANTIALLY NOISELESS FLUSH VALVE OF THE TYPE INCLUDING AN OPEN WATER LEVEL DETERMINING VESSEL IN WHICH THE FLOAT MEMBER IS FREELY SUSPENDED SO AS TO FORM A PRESSURE WATER CHAMBER WITHIN SAID OPEN VESSEL BELOW THE FLOAT MEMBER TO BE CHARGED WITH CISTERN REPLENISHING WATER FLOWING OVER THE RIM OF SAID OPEN VESSEL AS THE CISTERN APPROACHES FULL CAPACITY WHEREBY PRESSURE IS DEVELOPED IN SAID CHAMBER TO IMPART A QUICK SHORT LIFT TO SAID FLOAT MEMBER AND FLOAT ARM SUFFICIENT TO CLOSE SAID VALVE, THE WATER IN SAID   CHAMBER BEING DISCHARGEABLE IN RESPONSE TO THE SUCCEEDING FLUSHING OPERATION OF THE CISTERN.

Jan. 12, 1971 c. c. FOGG FLOAT CONTROLLED VALVES 0F CISTERNS Filed Oct. 21, 1968 A AA Inventor CLIFFORD CYRIL FOGG,

Attorneys United States Patent 3,553,740 FLOAT CONTROLLED VALVES OF CISTERNS Clifford Cyril Fogg, Mount Waverley, Victoria, Australia (907 High St., Armadale, Victoria, Australia) Filed Oct. 21, 1968, Ser. No. 769,229

' Int. Cl. E03d 1/32 U.S. Cl. 4-56 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention provides in or for a flushing cistern a substantially noiseless flush valve of the type including an open water level determining vessel in which the float member is freely suspended so as to form a pressure water chamber within said open vessel below the float member to be charged with cistern replenishing water flowing over the rim of said open vessel as the cistern approaches full capacity whereby pressure is developed in said chamber to impart a quick short lift to said float member and float arm sufficient to close said valve, the water in said chamber being dischargeable in response to the succeeding flushing operation of the cistern.

This invention relates to float controlled valves for flushing cisterns or tanks of the type in which a float member, usually a ball, is carried upon a float arm pivotally connected to the valve element of a valve interposed in the replenishing water pipe to cut off the flow into the cistern upon the water reaching the required level.

In the conventional flushing cisterns, the relatively long period that eventuates before the valve closes as the water is rising in the cistern promotes a considerable amount of objectionable noise, particularly as the lift movement of the ball and the resultant closure movement of the valve slows down as the water approaches the full level. Incidentally, the slow closure movement of the valve element is responsible for wear upon the sealing member or washer and the attendant necessity for maintenance operations at intervals to replace the latter sealing member or washer.

This invention has for its principal objective the elimination of the above recognized fault in float controlled valves by the provision of an improved float member operable to maintain idle or prevent movement of the float arm until practically full water level is reached in the cistern and then actuate said arm to effect a quick and substantially noiseless closure of the valve.

It is a further objective of the invention to provide such an improved float member for connection to the float arm and valve of the type specified, the quick closure of the valve responsive to the short lift of the float arm also contributing to its efficiency and enhancing the durability of its sealing member or washer.

With the above stated objective in view, there is provided in a flushing cistern of the type herein specified apparatus for controlling the valve comprising an open top vessel supported in the cistern in spaced relation to the flushing valve at a position whereby its rim determines the full level of water in the tank or cistern, a float member freely suspended from the float arm in separate spaced relation within the open top vessel to form a water pressure chamber between the bottom of said member and the bottom of said vessel which is charged with water flowing over the rim during the final phase of a cistern replenishing operation so as to exert pressure upon and ultimately raise the float member, and means in or upon the bottom of the open top vessel operable responsive to the pressure of residual replenishing water 3,553,740 Patented Jan. 12, 1971 in the water pressure chamber to discharge it into the cistern.

In assembly, the open vessel is supported in the cistern at a selected position whereby its rim determines the level of water therein when full, and the float member projects vertically out of and is freely slidable axially within said vessel because of the annular clearance therebetween and the free space at the bottom of the float member forming the pressure chamber.

As the cistern is approaching full capacity, the replenishing water fills and spills over the rim of the open vessel due to the disposition of the latter, the additional water being utilized to fill the abovementioned pressure chamber and lift the float member a suflicient distance only to move the float arm and close the valve. During a flushing operation, the abovementioned valve means is automatically operated when the level of the water falls to a predetermined point, to discharge the water from the open vessel into the cistern.

The accompanying drawings depict two practical arrangements of the float member according to the invention.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of one practical arrangement of the float member, the cistern being shown in section.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section of the open vessel and float member.

FIG. 3 is a detail view of the valve means incorporating the above valve member.

FIG. 4 is a view in section of the float member showing the other practical arrangement including the syphonic device.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 3; of the drawings, the float member consists of an inverted cylindrical member 5 having a truncated conical top 6 with a central upstanding lug 7 apertured at 8' for suspension of said member upon the end of the float arm 10 within the cistern C.

The cylindrical member 5 is moulded in plastic and preferably open at the bottom 5a, being freely suspended from the float arm 10 in and coaxial with an open cylindrical vessel 14 having a bracket or arm 15 upon one side for attachment to the internal wall W of the cistern C oppositely to the valve V connected to and operable by the float arm 10, which valve may be of any suitable construction; the open cylindrical vessel 14 is also moulded in plastic.

The internal diameter of the open cylindrical vessel 14 is greater than that of the external diameter of the cylindrical float member 5 to provide the annular space 20 therebetween, and in assembly, as viewed in FIG. 2, the cylindrical member 5 projects outwardly out of the cylindrical vessel 14 for the pivotal connection of the float arm 10. The depth of the cylindrical float member 5 within the open vessel is such that a free space 21 is left between the open bottom of the said member 5 and the bottom of the cylindrical vessel 14 to form the water pressure chamber 22.

The rim 14a at the open top of the cylindrical vessel 14- is located to establish the full or charged level L of the water in the cistern C and the rim provides a spillover for the replenishing water to flow down the annular space 20 and fill the pressure chamber 22 in said vessel below the cylindrical member 5. Upon the pressure chamber 22 being filled, the continued pressure of incoming water exerted upon the cylindrical float member causes the latter to raise and thereby lift the float arm 10 the required distance to close or shut off the cistern valve V.

As the cylindrical float member 5 is arranged in the upper portion of the cistern C, and is only brought into operation when the replenishing water is reaching the predetermined level in the cistern, only a shoft lift of said member by the pressure of water in the pressure chamber 22 and limited movement of the float arm is required to thus achieve a quick closure of the valve V. Means may be provided in the open cylindrical vessel 14 to support and guide the latter during its movement.

The bottom 14b of the open cylindrical vessel 14 is ported as at 24 and has attached thereto a closure member 25 of shallow cylindrical form with a diameter to enclose the ring of ports 24 and form a valve chamber 26 as viewed in FIG. 3. The closure member 25 is carried upon a central screw 27 threaded in the bottom 14b of the open cylindrical vessel 14, a discal diaphragm valve 28 is carried upon the screw to normally seat against the top of the valve chamber 26 to close the ports 24. The annular wall of the closure member 25 is formed with a number of spaced circumferential ports 30 through which water may pass from the valve chamber into the cistern C. The diaphragm valve 28 functioning as a non-return valve is normally maintained in the closed position by the pressure of the Water in the cistern C. During a flushing operation, the diaphragm valve 28 remains closed until the level of water in the cistern C falls below the line of the discharge ports 30 to leave said valve unsupported.

The weight of water in the valve chamber 22 in the open cylindrical vessel 14 is then imposed through the ports 24 onto the surface of the diaphragm valve 28.

The annular area of said valve is then deflected downwardly to uncover the ports 24 to permit the passag of Water through the ports 24 into the valve chamber and from the latter through the ports 30 into the cistern C to complete the flushing operation.

In the second practical arrangement illustrated in FIG. 4, the syphonic device consists of a vertical syphon tube indicated generally at mounted centrally within the open cylindrical vessel 14, the short limb 35a of which syphon tube is located immediately above the bottom 14b of said vessel to form the inlet port of said tube for the induced entry of Water from the pressure chamber 22.

For that purpose the long limb 35b of the syphon tube 35 sealably extends through a sleeve 36 let into an aperture in the bottom 14b of the open cylindrical vessel 14 to retain' the syphon tube in the erect position shown in FIG. 4, said limb 35b depending into the cistern C to a point well below the bottom 14b of the open cylindrical vessel.

Upon the flushing operation being initiated, the progressive falling of the Water level sets up the necessary suction action upon the open end of the longer limb 35b of the syphon tube to initiate the induced syphonic flow from the pressure chamber into and upwardly through the short limb 35a to draw the residual water from the valve chamber 22 through said tube into the cistern C.

What is claimed is:

1. In a flushing cistern apparatus for controlling the valve comprising an open top vessel supported in the cistern in spaced relation to the flushing valve at a position where its rim determines the full level of Water in the cistern, a float arm, a float member freely suspended from said float arm in separate spaced relation within said open top vessel to form a water pressure chamber between the bottom of said member and the bottom of said vessel which is charged with Water flowing over said rim during the final phase of a cistern replenishing operation so as to exert pressure upon and ultimately raise said float member, and means at the bottom of said open top vessel operably responsive to the pressure of residual replenishing water in said water pressure chamber to discharge it into the cistern, said means being a valve means disposed in the bottom of the open vessel normally retained closed by the pressure of Water in the cistern so as to automatically open upon the flushing water falling to a level in the cistern at which said pressure is relieved from the valve means to permit the latter to open responsive to the pressure of said residual water.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 702,811 6/1902 McCoy et a1 4--42 2,642,081 6/1953 Winger 441X 3,403,696 10/1968 Pynchon l37525X LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner R. I. SMITH, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

